Misurina is known as the starting point for the famous Tre Cime. In fact, there is much more to see and experience there. It is a paradise for nature and history lovers.
Where did we sleep?
We slept in a campervan parking lot , where you had to pay €20 for 24 hours, which includes drainage and water, but no electricity. There is also a campsite opposite the campervan parking lot, but it is old and has uneven pitches.
Misurina was our starting point for the three wonderful hikes described below.
1. Climb Monte Piana (2324 m)
Monte Piana is famous for its open-air museum, which offers an insight into the history of the First World War. Monte Piana was the scene of fierce fighting during the First World War. Today it is an open-air museum where you can see trenches, bunkers and other military facilities. From the top of Monte Piana, there is a magnificent view of the surrounding peaks, including the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
You can take a shuttle jeep to the top or walk. We chose to walk, of course.
Description of the route: The route starts on the left side of the roundabout, where it is marked with a sign for prohibited traffic. Soon turn left (sign pedoni Monte Piana ) and follow the old route, which was partially destroyed due to landslides and unstable terrain and is closed to traffic. Then join the asphalt road again, where shuttle jeeps drive, so be careful.
The path to the Rifugio Angelo Bosi Monte Piana hut takes about an hour's walk. The hut opens at 10:30, and next to it there is a small church and a howitzer . We continued our journey there, on the right, past the church. Along the grassy path all the way to the first trenches and bunkers and other remains of the First World War. This part was the most beautiful for the children. You can walk around the open-air museum for hours, exploring the trenches and bunkers and enjoying the views.
The climb to the top involves 600 vertical meters, and the entire trail is almost 12 kilometers long. Due to its length, the trail is suitable for children who are used to walking.
2. A lovely walk around Lake Misurina
Lake Misurina is about 5 meters deep. It was formed by natural processes such as glacial activity and erosion. The water in the lake is extremely clean and is fed by the surrounding mountains. It has been the setting for films and TV series, and some were being filmed during our visit. There are hotels, a Despar shop and sports shops by the lake.
The path around the lake is varied and easy (no climbs). It will take you about an hour to complete the circuit. It depends on how much you take pictures and feed the ducks. Children will also be delighted by the brand new children's playground (next to the campsite).
3. Ascent to Rifugio Col de Varda
The third option, if you are in Misurina, is to climb to Rifugio Col de Varda, which starts at the Seggiovia Col de Varda cable car.
The hut offers a beautiful view of Lake Misurina and the surrounding peaks. A wide, marked macadam path leads to the hut, which is also suitable for children.
The path to the hut is beautiful and not at all dangerous. It is a climb of 350 meters in altitude and a four-kilometer long path. We narrowly escaped the rain and refreshed ourselves with dessert and tea in the hut, then waited for the storm to pass and then quickly escaped to the valley with the double chairlift. The cable car ride back to the valley cost us 8 euros per person.
Misurina is a truly wonderful starting point for hiking and exploring the natural beauty and history of the Dolomites. I hope you will enjoy these wonderful trails too! If you haven't visited Tre Cime Di Lavaredo yet, go there first (you can find a description of the trail in my guide Dolomites for little mountaineers ) and then check out the suggestions from this blog post.